Shoe drier



- M. o. FROST ET AL 2,082,052

sHoE DRIER Filed June 20, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June l, Y19377.

June-l, 1937.

M. O. FROST ET AL SHOE DRIER Filed ,June 20, 1932 FIGQ. 4.

5 Sheets-Sheer?I 2 June l, 1937. M. o,l FROST E-r AL i 2,082,052

SHOE DRIER Filed June 20, 1952 3 SheetS-Shee 3 Patented June 1,v 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE DRIER Application June 20, 1932, Serial No. 618,250

` 7 Claims. (Cl. 192-150) This invention relates to shoe driers, and with regard to certain more specific features togautomatic driers for shoe factories.

This application is related to the cpending application of Myron O. Frost, Serial No. 530,266, led April 16, 1931, for System of manufacturing shoes, in that the present application refers to the drier shown therein.

The present application is also related to the co-pending application of Myron O. Frost, Serial No. 558,922, led August 24, 1931, and which has eventuated into Patent 1,863,557, dated June 2l, 1932.

The primary object of this invention is to prollli vide in a conveyor means responsive to the loadon the conveyor for controlling the operation of the conveyor drive mechanism more particularly v by so mounting the motor support that when the conveyor is overloaded the motor circuit will`be opened automatically. A furtherobject of this invention is to provide means which act automatically to stop the travel of the conveyor after it has advanced a predetermined distance. g In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an L-shaped drier; Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation of the drive of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing an alternative position of certainv parts of Fig. 2;. Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 2, but extended to show more parts;

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4; Y, Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram for the drier of Fig. 1; l

Fig. 8 is a cross section of a d rum switch; Fig. S is a plan viewof Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 isa developed view of a switch contact used in the switch shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

rlhe illustrated form of this invention comprises an L-shapedgirame |5| having a vertical portion and a. horizontal portion extending from the upper end of thev vertical portion. The frame rotatably. supports sprockets |53 over which travel a pair of parallel endless chains |55. Suspended from the chains are racks comprising brackets 43, crossbars 45 and pairs cf shoe-carrying pins 41, each rack being adapted to support a plurality of shoes as for example twelve.

' The chains |55 have,` besides their substantially vertical' reaches, substantially horizontal reaches |51 leadingover sprockets |59 and IGI. While the frame |5| stands upon the oor of the shoe factory, frame workl |63 for supporting the sprockets |59 and |6| at the outer end of the horizontal portion and other parts to be hereafter' described, is suspended from the ceiling or elsewhere. As shown in Figure l, this provides an inverted L-shaped 'drier which permits of maintaining the shoes on the drier for a longer period 'of time, by lengthening the' passage through the drier without using excessive head room.A Such a construction is particularly advantageous when it is not desired to accelerate the drying by means of heat, the ordinary room atmosphere being. used for drying purposes. However, it should be understood that heating means may be associated with this form of the invention.'

'Ihe ceiling frame work |63 is extended to provide support for a bearing |65 by means of whicha motor platform |61 is pivoted, said motor platform |61 carrying the motor |69, a speed reducer |1| associated therewith, and a solenoid brake |13. A chain drive |15 from the speed reducer |1| passes' to a gear reduction arrangement |11 associated with the sprocket IGI. The platform |61 has a tendency to rotate clockwise due to the weight of the motor |69, brake |13 and speed reducer |1|. A spring |81'. is used to countesbalance vthe weight at a predetermined point, this point being such that the chain |15 is in proper run` ning tension. It will be understood that other means of placing the chain |15 in the proper running tension may be used, such as by eliminating the spring |82 and reducing the tendency of the platform |61 to rotate clockwise by placing the, motor |69 next to the speed reducer |1|.

Thus the action of gravity due to the weight of the motor |69, solenoid brake |13, speed reducer |1| and associated parts causes a tendency to clockwise motion of the platform |61 on the pivotal bearing |65-(Fig. 2) and puts the chains y |55 into proper tension. However, under normal driving conditions, the normal slack in the upper reach of said chain is increased by the tendency of the spring |82 to raise the platform |61 against 'said action of gravity. vThe raising is resisted by the gravitational load and bya spring |19 reacting from a nut'l83 threaded on a bolt ||3|, the latter being fastened to the frame |53.

.The nut |83 permits of adjusting the spring reaction so that under normal driving conditions, \cam |85 movable on the pivot shaft |65 -with the platform |01 does not depress a switch lever |91. However, if an overload or emergency load, such as induced or incurred byinjury to an operator in the apparatus, then the reaction on the lower reach of the chain |15 is greater and coacts with the spring |92 to raise the platform |91 against the spxing |19 and thus bring into action l the toe |99 of said cam |95, so as to depress said switch lever |01, thereby opening the switch |9| and breaking the circuit to the motor |99 and stopping the drive.

In order`that the switch |9| will not be reclosed before the abnormality is corrected and under conditions to be described, there is provided a solenoid brake |19 on a brake drum |99 on the shaft between the motor |59 and the speed reducer |1|. 'I'his brake |19 is operable tol effect braking Awhen the solenoid coil |95 thereof is de-energized. Said coil is positioned across the motor circuit and when the motor is on, the coil |95 is energized and the brake is ofi'.

Whenever the motor circuit is broken, the circuit of the solenoid coil |95 is also broken, thusrelieving pull on the armature |91. 'I'his releases the arm |99 so that spring 29| may come into action to set the brake. Under energized conditions of the coil |95, said coil holds the brake in "05 position, against the action of brake spring 20|. As soon as the coil |95 is deenergized (whenever the motor is de-energized) the spring 20| reacts between the brake arm 209 and brake rod 201 reaching to arm 205 to apply the/brake.

Thus whenever the motor circuit is broken as by the switch |9|, or otherwise, the solenoid brake is applied to prevent any movement of the drier under its unbalanced load. This also prevents -the platform |91 from returning to cause closing of the switch |9| after the platform has once raised to cause opening of said switch. |9I, that is, until the overloaded condition has been relieved by means to be described. It will be understood that if the horizontal reaches of the inverted L-shaped drier are very lons. that the braking feature may not be required because of the excessive drag of the horizontal reach.

Another feature of this invention is illustrated at Figs. 1 and 7 to 10. InvFigQI is shown the wiring diagram for the las. The limb m or the circuit, which includes the motor and solenoid in parallel has the overload safety switch |9| therein which, when an overload occurs as above described, opens and remains opened while rectification is being efhaving therein several switches, one of which is' an' automatic switch 2|9. This switch is detailed at Fig. 9 and comprises a four-iugged star wheel 2|5. the lugs of which are adapted to be engaged by suitably located vpins 2|1 on the chain |55.l The lugs 2| 1 are stationed at intervals on said chain |55 equal to the intervals of the racks supported on-said chain.

, Referring to Fig. 9, it will be seen that the stem 2|9 of the wheel 215 turns a drum 22| on which is a contact plate 229, shown developed in Fig. 10. This plate, as the quarter revolutions of the wheel 2|5 and drum 22| occur, is adapten to make contacts from a finger 221 to a finger 225 and at this time. the circuit through a finger 229 is, broken. This energize's a line 229 of the circuit. At thenext quarter turn, the

motor |59 and solenoid circuit through the finger 229 is made, thereby energizing the line 29| of said circuit, whereas the current over said line 221 is broken.

Another three way switch 295 is used at the other end of a line 229 and 29|, which is manually operated.

A reversing switch 291, also manually operable, is used to reverse the lines 229 and 29| between the switches 295 and 2|9, so that alter a quarter turn of the drum 22| under influence of a pin 2|1 and a consequent turning olf of the motor, the motor |59 may be re-energized. The operation is as follows:

Consider the motor |59 to be operating, the solenoid Y|95 to be energized, and the brake |19 oil'. Assume that the emergency stop switch 295 is set at the solid-line position shown, so that the line 229 'may carry current. The reversing switch 291 is in the solid-line position shown. Then when a pin 2|1 advances 4so as to turn the wheel 2| 5 a quarter revolution, the switch 2 |9 takes up the dotted line position, having been at the solid line position, thereby breaking the circuit over the line 229. 'I'his energizes the line 29|, but inasmuch as this is not at this time in connection` with the limb 2|| of the circuit, the motor is decnergized. as is the coil |95. The motor therefore stops and the solenoid brake |19 serves to hold the apparatus wherever it is positioned.

Whenever the operator wishes to cause an` advance of the next rack of shoes into the posi tion, he throws the reversing switch 291 into the dotted line position shown. This causes the now energized line 29| to supply current to the line 228 and through the solid-line position of switch 235, current passing to said limb 2||. This eiects a re-starting so that a pin 2| 1 advances until the switch 2|9 again opens the cir cuit to the line 29| to complete the cycle. The operator can repeat the throwingy oi' the four pole switch 291 as often as desired. Thus, for each throw of thev switch291, the mechanism advances one step, that is, to advance'each rack of shoes tothe position previously occupied by an anterior rack.

Whenever it is desired to efl'ect an emergency Stop, after the switch 2|9 has started in operation, the switch 235 may be used, regardless of which position the switch 2|9 happens to be in. After stoppage by said switch 295 a start may again be eiected at will by throwing the reversing switch 291, leaving the switch 225 in the position that it happens to be, inasmuch as the switches 2|9 and 291 will work as above described in either position ofv switch 295.

\ For purposes' of providing continuous operation, when desired, a by-pass circuit 299 is used having a switch 29| therein.

The operation of the described form of the invention is as follows:

An operator receiving shoes at X for operation thereon such as by treatment with a mawterial which is required to be dried) loads the drier rack directly ahead of him with the shoes. When it is full he operates the reversing switch 291 which causes the now stationary switch 2|9 to "feed fcurrent through the switch 295. This causes the motor to start and thesolenoid |95 to release the brake |11. The by-pass switch 29| is open and emergency switch |9| closed.

`After the drier has advanced the distance be tween successive steps of shoe supporting racks. one of the pins 2|1 comes in contact with the wheel 2|5 to rotate said wheel a quarter turn and thus to reset the switch 2H, thereby causing said switch to throw current (in view of the unaltered position of switch 231i to the then open side of switch 235, thus breaking the motor circuit and dea-energizing the solenoid |85 to permit the brake to be set by the spring Conditions remain thus until the four pole switch 23T is again reset which is after the next loading of shoes has been completed, whereupon the switch 2i3 becomes effective to supply current to the switch 235 over its closed pole. Thus for each normal throw oi the switch 231- in either direction, a startand automatic stop oi the apparatus is made.

Whenever it is desired to stop the operation in any condition of switches 2I3 and 231, the switch 235 is thrown. fte-starting may then be effected by means of reversing switch 231. Or, whenever it is desired to continuously operate the device, the switch 24| is closed.

The advantage of the inverted L-shape form of the invention is that the drying time is increased without use of an excessive amount oi head room.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

-`We claim: Agi. In conveying apparatus, a conveyor, a drive `o`r"1the conveyor, said drive, comprising 'a movable support, a motor drive on said support, said drive connecting with the conveyor, said `support being movable during driving of the conveyor in proportion to the loading of the conveyor, and a switch responsive to said movement adapted to open the motor circuit after a predetermined movement according to a predetermined conveyor loading, and means for loading the motor drive in a given position after the circuit has opened to prevent reclosing of said circuit.

. 2. In a power transmission, the combination of a pivotally mounted frame, a motor on said frame, yieldable torque resisting means operatively connected with the frame, a power transmitting element operatively connected with the motor and adapted to be. driven thereby, and means including a circuit breaking device op erativelyassociated with said motor supporting frame and being operable to interrupt the operation of the motor upon the frame exceeding a predetermined pivotal movement relative to its support.

3. In a power transmission, the combination of a pivotally mounted trame, a motor on said frame, yieldable `torque resisting means operatively connected with the frame to permit of a limited pivotal movement oi' said frame in re sponse to variations in the torque transmitted by said motor, a power transmitting element operatively connected with the motor and adapted to be driven thereby, and means including a circuit breaking device operatively associated with said motor supporting frame and being operable to interrupt the operation of the motor upon the torque exceeding a predetermined limit.

4. In a power transmission, the combination of a drive means, means to support said drive means so as to be angularly movable with respect to a certain axis, said means including a yieldable restraining means tending to maintain said drive means in a relatively stationary position, and means operative to interrupt the operation oi said drive means upon thereof exceeding a predetermined limit.

5. In a power transmissionJ the combination of a motor, means to support said motor so as to be angularly movable with respect to a certain axis, said means including a yieldable restraining means tending to maintain said motor in a relatively stationary position, a power transmitting element operatively connected with the motor and adapted to be driven thereby. and means operative to stop said motorcupon the angular movement thereof exceedingl a. predetermined limit.

6. In a power transmission, the combination of a motor, means to support said motor so as to be angularly movable with respect to a certain axis, said means including a yieldable restraining means tending to maintain said motor in a relatively stationary position, a power transmitting element operatively connected with the motor and adapted to be driven thereby, and means operative by the angular movement ci the motor that is produced incident to its torque reaction against the action oi the restraining means for stopping the motor upon the angular movement thereof exceeding a predetermined amount.

47. In a power transmission, the combination of a motor, means to support said motor so as to be angularly movable with respect to a certain axis, said Ameans including a. yieldable restraining means tending to maintain said motor in a relatively stationary position, a power transmitting element operatively connected with the motor the angular movement,

and adapted to be driven thereby, a trip actuated driving torque reaction against the action of the restraining means.

MYRON o. nws'r. PETER. mmm. 

